Milton Packer, MD: The Evolution of the SGLT2 Inhibitor Class

For the past 2 years, the annual European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress has been headlined by major data related to SGLT2 inhibitors. In 2019, it was DAPA-HF and, in 2020, EMPEROR-Reduced, as well as DAPA-CKD, were among the most noteworthy studies presented.

Once seen as the less effective, oral option to GLP-1 receptor agonists for HbA1c control and weight loss, the way cardiologists regard the SGLT2 inhibitor class has undergone a fundamental shift. Now, after multiple major trials have examined use of the agents in those with and without type 2 diabetes, the class has gone from the domain of endocrinologists to cardiologists.

To gain a greater understanding about how cardiologists interpret this new data, Practical Cardiology reached out to presenter of the EMPEROR-Reduced trial Milton Packer, MD, a cardiologist at Baylor Medical Center, to take part in a special edition ESC 2020 House Call.